CESL, cross-border transactions and domestic law : why a dual approach could work (although CESL might not)

This article explores the case for legislation that focuses specifically on cross-border consumer transactions in the internal market. It argues that the existence of two parallel regimes (domestic and cross-border) is a positive step because the cross-border environment gives rise to different problems than the domestic context. It develops a notion of 'cross-border' that is different from that in Common European Sales Law (CESL), before considering the arguments for and against this approach. The positive view of a regulation focusing on cross-border transactions is combined with the argument in that the substantive provisions of CESL would need to be redrafted so as to fully address all the specific issues that arise in the cross-border context. Moreover, a cross-border CESL should be automatically applicable, i.e., not optional. It concludes that the step taken towards a cross-border regulation is a positive one, but that further work on the substance of a CESL is needed.

Consumer goods guarantees in the DCFR

This article examines the provisions on consumer guarantees as contained in the Draft Common Frame of Reference (DCFR). It will be argued that while some of these provisions may seem sensible at first sight, there appears to be no clear justification for their adoption. Drawing on the wider literature on the function of consumer guarantees, it will be suggested that the DCFR provisions have failed to take into account relevant empirical findings and that some of these provisions cannot be supported on the basis of this literature. The limited influence of the DCFR provisions on consumer guarantees on the Acquis review is noted

Bad hand? The “new deal” for EU consumers

On 11 April 2018, the European Commission presented its "New Deal for Consumers". The "New Deal" addresses four key areas: (1) General improvements to Consumer Protection rules (2) An increased ability to impose sanctions on traders who fail to comply with consumer protection rules (3) The introduction of a representative action (4) Taking action to stop "dual quality" goods (i.e., goods sold under one brand etc. but of varying levels of quality in different Member States). The focus of this contribution is on (1), (2) and (4), which are all dealt with by the proposal for the Modernisation Directive

Conformidad de los bienes y los contenidos y servicios digitales

[eng] This paper considers the role of legal conformity requirements in consumer sales contracts, distinguishing between different levels of conformity based on subjective and objective criteria. It then critiques the conformity requirements in two recent EU Directives on consumer sales, and the supply of digital content and digital services respectively. It is critical of the maximum harmonisation standard of these directives and the inflexibility this imposes, as well as the lack of creativity in developing modern consumer-specific rules. It questions the separation into subjective and objective conformity requirements and argues that there is no room for subjective conformity requirements based on party agreement in most consumer contracts. It then critically analyses the conformity rules in both directives and discusses ambiguities, open questions, as well as positive aspects (for instance, the inclusion of new criteria such as compatibility, functionality and interoperability). It highlights the potential role of the "reasonable expectations" criterion as a way of mitigating the effects of the maximum harmonisation nature of the directives. Finally, it highlights the insufficient account that has been taken of sustainability in the development of these directives, which seems due to a desire to prioritise maximum harmonisation rather than modern, creative consumer law rules[spa] En el presente trabajo examina los requisitos de conformidad jurídica en los contratos de venta al consumidor y distingue entre diferentes niveles basados en criterios subjetivos y objetivos. Luego se critican los requisitos de conformidad de dos recientes directivas de la Unión Europea sobre las ventas al consumidor y el suministro de contenidos y servicios digitales, respectivamente. Se critica la técnica de armonización máxima de esas directivas y la falta de flexibilidad que la misma conlleva, así como la falta de creatividad en la elaboración de normas modernas específicas para los consumidores. El trabajo cuestiona también la separación entre los requisitos de conformidad subjetivos y objetivos, y sostiene que no hay lugar para los requisitos de conformidad subjetivos basados en el acuerdo de las partes en la mayoría de los contratos con consumidores. A continuación, se analizan críticamente las normas de conformidad de ambas directivas y sus ambigüedades, las cuestiones pendientes y los aspectos positivos (por ejemplo, la inclusión de nuevos criterios como la compatibilidad, la funcionalidad y la interoperabilidad). Destaca el potencial que puede tener el criterio de las "expectativas razonables", como forma de mitigar los efectos de la máxima armonización de ambas directivas. Por último, destaca la insuficiente consideración que se ha dado al criterio de la sostenibilidad en la elaboración de estas directivas, lo que parece deberse al deseo de dar prioridad a la armonización máxima frente a las normas modernas y creativas del derecho del consumido

UK Consumer Law after withdrawal from the European Union (“Brexit”)

[eng] This paper explains the state of UK Consumer Law immediately before Brexit. It then explains how the withdrawal from the EU was effected through a statutory scheme which transferred EU legislation and case-law into the domestic law of the UK, and the immediate changes made to UK Consumer Law as a result. It then turns to the implications of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, before commenting on the first set of reform proposals made after the UK’s departure from the EU.[spa] En este trabajo se explica el Derecho de consumo en el Reino Unido inmediatamente antes del Brexit. Luego se explica cómo la retirada de la UE se llevó a cabo a través de un régimen legal que transfirió la legislación y la jurisprudencia de la UE al Derecho interno del Reino Unido, así como los cambios inmediatos que, como resultado, se produjeron en el Derecho de consumo del Reino Unido. A continuación, se abordan las implicaciones del Acuerdo de Comercio y Cooperación, antes de comentar el primer conjunto de propuestas de reforma realizadas tras la salida del Reino Unido de la UE.[cat] En aquest treball s'explica el dret de consum al Regne Unit immediatament abans del Brexit. Després s'explica com la retirada de la UE es va dur a terme a través d'un règim legal que va transferir la legislació i la jurisprudència de la UE a el Dret intern del Regne Unit, així com els canvis immediats que, com a resultat, es van produir en el dret de consum del Regne Unit. A continuació, s'aborden les implicacions de l'Acord de Comerç i Cooperació, abans de comentar el primer conjunt de propostes de reforma realitzades després de la sortida del Regne Unit de la UE

Rethinking EU Consumer Law

In Rethinking EU Consumer Law, the authors analyse the development of EU consumer law on the basis of a number of clear themes, which are then traced through specific areas. Recurring themes include the artificiality of the EU’s consumer image, the problems created by the drive towards maximum harmonisation, and the unexpected effects EU Consumer Law has had on national law. The book argues that EU Consumer Law has the potential of enhancing the protecting of consumers throughout the EU and could offer a model for consumer law elsewhere in the world, but in order to unlock this potential, there needs to be a rethink with regard to the EU’s approach to consumer law and policy

Rethinking EU Consumer Law

This title is published in Open Access with the support of the University of Helsinki.In Rethinking EU Consumer Law, the authors analyse the development of EU consumer law on the basis of a number of clear themes, which are then traced through specific areas. Recurring themes include the artificiality of the EU’s consumer image, the problems created by the drive towards maximum harmonisation, and the unexpected effects EU Consumer Law has had on national law. The book argues that EU Consumer Law has the potential of enhancing the protecting of consumers throughout the EU and could offer a model for consumer law elsewhere in the world, but in order to unlock this potential, there needs to be a rethink with regard to the EU’s approach to consumer law and policy

Rethinking EU Consumer Law

In Rethinking EU Consumer Law, the authors analyse the development of EU consumer law on the basis of a number of clear themes, which are then traced through specific areas. Recurring themes include the artificiality of the EU's consumer image, the problems created by the drive towards maximum harmonisation, and the unexpected effects EU consumer law has had on national law.Peer reviewe

Protecting the Values of Consumer Law in the Digital Economy: The Case of 3D-Printing

The law on consumer goods is currently underpinned to a significant degree by the need ethic (prioritising protection of consumers as vulnerable parties, over business self-interest and consumer self-reliance ). This is manifest in strict and quasi-strict liability standards. Notwithstanding 3D-printing innovations, there is a good case for adherence to the need ethic: The risks (of poor quality and unsafe goods) are as high as before (or higher); consumers are as vulnerable (or more so) than before; and there is insufficient evidence that the need ethic undermines innovation. We will argue in this paper that, despite the innovative aspects of 3D-printing, the law can often continue to reflect the need ethic via existing legal principles (current strict and quasi strict liability standards), subject to some extensions (e.g. as to supplier and producer liability for digital content), and through clarifications of existing legal rules and principles (e.g. as to who counts as a professional business supplier). However, to ensure that the need ethic is respected fully in all aspects of this technology, the law may need to go beyond these clarifications and modest extensions. For example, the increasing difficulty of locating the source of a quality or safety problem and the impact this has on a consumer’s ability to discharge the burden of proof, increase the need to impose some ‘network’ liability, involving re-allocation of responsibilities to traders (e.g. internet platforms) who would not be responsible under traditional legal regimes. This analysis is significant in providing specific doctrinal solutions for an important and emerging sector of the consumer economy. More generally, it provides a new theoretical framework for analysing how consumer law should deal with the challenges of innovation